Hungry Sandwich Club – Duke Studio Residents

Martin O’Dea and Andy Foster set up their graphic design and illustration business, Hungry Sandwich Club in 2014. In their final year at Leeds Arts University Andy and Martin attended University workshops on enterprise and employability. As a result of these workshops, they had a clear understanding of commercial awareness and business terminology once they started trading. The experience also gave them time to clarify what they want to achieve, their values, motivations and unique selling point.

They found the transition from student to professional life relatively painless, due to the professional focus and work ethos instilled at University. At Duke Studios they accessed vital information and mentoring about their website, financial and legal matters, competitors, customer relationships and pitching for business.

Since leaving University Martin and Andy won a “Best in Show” award at the D&AD global advertising design awards show, before working on designs for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France, the BBC, charities, the Design Museum and Leeds Print Festival. With the advice of Duke Studio mentors, Andy and Martin have found “a much better balance between a professional and fun aesthetic which has already proven to be more effective at attracting clients”.

In 2015 Andy and Martin are renting a space at Duke Studio funded by their graphic design, animation and illustration business, Hungry Sandwich Club. Andy and Martin say “We’ve done better, sooner than we had anticipated. We couldn’t have done this without Duke Studios. It gave us an amazing head start, fast tracked us. The mentoring has taught us everything, without this it would have been trial and error. The help here has been brilliant. The key to our success has been Duke Studios”.